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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be peed off being hounded by RSPCA for money... just because i ALREADY pay them money?

159 replies

juicychops · 05/07/2011 17:48

i was targeted a year ago and read out some story about a poor abused dog which after MUCH pleading by the man i agreed to a monthly donation of £3.

Over the last 3 months i have had a number keep calling me literally about 20 odd times. i haven't answered because i didn't recognise the number. anyway the last time they called i rang the number back to see who it was and as it was the RSPCA, when they called AGAIN today i answered, thinking it was to just say thanks for my continued support.

but no

i had another story about another poor dog and then was told that others who already sponsor rspca have agreed to up their donation to £10 per month and would i like to?

i said no.

another story about another dog, then asked if £5 would be ok?

i said no again.

then, some MORE stories about how terrible dogs have been treated and figures from the last year. then asked if £3 would be ok?

by this time i was getting a bit narked and said politely i already give to the dogs trust which combined with rspca totals £10 per month i cant afford any more. she finally got the message and said goodbye.

i know animals get badly treated every day and my money is needed, but it is also needed by my ds too and these calls i find really uncomfortable because of the sob stories they read out to emotionally blackmail you. i just find it really annoying that i was targeted before and persuaded to pay because i wasn't already, but now targeted again BECAUSE i already pay them, and obviously not enough by their standards.

i am too polite to be firm at the start of the call so i cant help but let them go on and on

AIBU to be annoyed?

OP posts:
madmn52 · 07/07/2011 11:26

Dogsbestfriend - the dog is a little black and white staffie and on the odd sighting of it walking about on window ledge and on sighting of getting in breeders(?) car it does not appear to have any mobility issues or limps etc. I have no teenage children and its a bit difficult to ask any neighbours children because of the breed which a lot of people are wary of obviously. I am a little nervous of them myself although I did have one from a pup once which was brilliant - but still when they are someone elses/unknown history I am a little wary of them. But it still breaks my heart to see him like that all the time as I know from experience they are such active energetic dogs. There is one last possibility to just give the owner one last benefit of the doubt. I also had a staffie rescue dog after my good experience with my one i had from a pup and it was a completely different experience - he had been abused and was very very nervous and a nightmare with other animals etc. So I used to walk him very early and let him off lead on a field near us before anyone else was around - about 5am usually. But its unlikely she does this because her curtains are never drawn back till about midday and she goes out till wee small hours regularly - but i will look out for this possibility.

madmn52 · 07/07/2011 11:29

I have to go out now but thanks for the advice - given me a few ideas but rest assured little dog on the window will get that walk. I will do something I know not what just yet and will post back on here.

DogsBestFriend · 07/07/2011 11:51

Oh jeez... :( FFS, of all the dogs to breed from this pondlife selects the one which are in biggest need of NOT being bred from and which are dying in the greatest numbers for want of homes. Angry

mad, thank you, it's good to know that someone cares. Please do keep us informed and take care, whatever you do.

Fifis25StottieCakes · 07/07/2011 11:57

poor dog Sad. Ive got a little black and white staffie whos lovely. Could you possibly try and shame them into taking it out. Something along the lines of what a lovely dog, he looks so sad sitting at the window? Why do people get dogs and not walk them. For me thats one of main reasons in having a dog. Theres is obviously just to make money.

TheSmallClanger · 07/07/2011 12:07

If you are brazen enough, you could try what my aunt did for an Afghan hound, many years ago. She got my dad to back her up, marched up to its useless owner's house and announced she was taking the dog away. The owner was surprised, but apparently not particularly bothered, and the dog lived with her and her family for many more years.

We have our own little rescue Staff who also likes climbing on things and standing in the window, although she does get walks. They are usually very trusting dogs (very easy to steal), and if you can get friendly with her at all, maybe you could offer to take her out?

I suspect our Little Dog was the victim of some sort of cowboy breeder with excess "stock". DH and DD found her on a bit of waste ground, aged four weeks. We searched for her littermates, but never found them. There was no question of bothering with the RSPCA: we took advice from a local rescue person and our Big Dog's vet and kept her ourselves.

pawsnclaws · 07/07/2011 15:35

Poor little Staffie Sad. So sad to think of such a lovely dog being neglected.

Sometimes I think personal intervention is the only option, as already suggested. My mum and dad have essentially become the "owners" of a JRT who belongs to a friend of a friend - the poor little thing was completely abandoned when the owner became pregnant (and yes they got the dog as a childless couple but knew at the time they were TTC!) and they couldn't be bothered to walk her/feed her/pay her any attention. Sadly she would snap at children if given half a chance, and luckily my mum and dad are able to offer a child-free foster home for a dog who would otherwise have been given up (possibly even put down). Mum asked the owner if she could stay for a holiday and they never asked for her back, so [shrug].

Sorry emptyshell, I have to say greyhound nutters do get a bit evangelical! I think it's because you get so much love back from a dog which at best has been treated as a commodity and at worst may have been mistreated. I hope the right boy or girl comes up for you soon - life will never be the same!

BalloonSlayer · 07/07/2011 16:50

It does sound sad for the poor wee dog but I ought to tell you that my sister lives in Australia and practically no one out there walks their dogs. They live out in the back yard and that is that. This is not considered cruelty.

She is considered "that funny Pom who takes her dog for a walk." Some of the local dogs, when she takes her dog out, escape from their yards to join her "pack" on their walk, and return to their yards afterwards.

She said to me once that "walking the dog" appears to be a peculiarly British thing.

(Personally I agree that not walking a dog is neglectful and wouldn't have one unless I could give it one long or two short walks a day.)

madmn52 · 07/07/2011 18:29

Yes Balloonslayer I have heard from my sis in law that its like that in NZ and they arent welcome in many public places with a dog on a lead and as you say its considered slightly odd. But I think the difference is they usually have a lot more space there - not many 10ft short backyards I'd guess.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 07/07/2011 18:43

Emptyshell.. Why are you waiting for a local one? Can't you find a greyhound to rescue anywhere in the UK? There are masses of homing shelters, plus myriad greyhound specialists pretty much everywhere. Sorry if I'm being thick but I don't understand what you're having to wait for.

flyingspaghettimonster · 07/07/2011 18:58

The Macmillan nurses fundraisers came door to door last night and flummoxed me as I wanted to make a donation, but not a direct debit and they couldn't take it so I had to do direct debit instead... I didn't the girl I spoke to was employed - I assumed it was a volunteer. She was awkward when I said only 5pounds a month instead of 8 that she wanted, and I feel let down it was a paid worker who signed me up. My mother was angry I signed up as they had only just done the street two weeks before - what a waste of funding for a charity :-(

Fifis25StottieCakes · 07/07/2011 19:11

Thats what i thought empty - Heres a one i think

www.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk/

Fifis25StottieCakes · 07/07/2011 19:13

arrr look at soxy and smokey from the North East. I love the grey ones Smile

pawsnclaws · 07/07/2011 19:59

Mine is grey! He's a big soppy lump, just wants to be cuddled and snooze all day - hard to believe he used to race.

I assumed emptyshell is waiting for a dog that matches her needs eg OK with cats or kids. Mine is great with the three boys but not sure I'd trust him with a cat!

TigerseyeMum · 07/07/2011 20:07

Greyhound Gap have a website with them on and they home all over the UK Grin

So do GRWE.

I luffs greyhounds I do.

Fifis25StottieCakes · 07/07/2011 20:10

They look so soft and soppy. Do they settle ok in a hoome after racing?

TigerseyeMum · 07/07/2011 20:21

Yes, they take to a sofa like a duck to water Grin

They are quite easy and gentle dogs, though as a first timer you would be best not to home one that has a strong prey drive. Some have almost zero prey drive!

Fifis25StottieCakes · 07/07/2011 20:24

I cant have one as have 2 dogs already. My mams dream dog is a greyhound or whippet.

pawsnclaws · 07/07/2011 20:25

Surprisingly well in our case. Bertie had literally never set foot in a home having lived in kennels for five years so we were told he was kennel trained but not house trained - but he got it immediately. He'd never been with a family but is very gentle and affectionate with our boys. He's never been upstairs in our house yet doesn't seem bothered at all when we disappear up there! Basically he just needs a warm bed, nice food, two short walks a day and a bit of a cuddle and he's happy. No toilet training, no separation anxiety, no barking, no chewing - none of the puppy stuff - what's not to love?!

Sorry for the hijack!!

JohnSRW · 06/07/2015 10:13

I know this is an old thread but to stop the calls ring 03330110023

Iliveinalighthousewith2friendl · 06/07/2015 10:38

Ynbu. This is probably why some people stop giving all together. they do them self no favours taking advantage of people's generosity when they're all ready giving what they can, and the ones that don't want to give, well that's up to them . . Talk about inches and miles.

FannyPlant · 06/07/2015 10:49

I stopped donating because of this. It was all getting too much.

tilliebob · 06/07/2015 10:53

YANBU. I've had similar hassles with the Red Cross and have contacted them about it. Seriously tempted to cancel the DD now - I've stopped supporting other charities due to feeling hounded.

WhetherOrNot · 06/07/2015 11:08

I stopped supporting the RSPCA because of all their calls. I now donate to The Brooke (worldwide donkey charity).

ceebie · 06/07/2015 13:12

Not sure why a 2011 thread has been resurrected.

However, I've been donating to the WWF for a long time (maybe 15 years?). I used to get a phone call about once a year but I had one very pushy and unpleasant volunteer phone me. I complained and said that I would stop the DD if they asked for more money again - I would decide if I could afford to give more. They must have taken me off their list because I've never had another call from them since (I still donate).

Gabilan · 06/07/2015 14:00

"Don't breed or buy while shelter animals die"

That's what I stick to. Currently a feral cat that was part of Cats Protection's TNR scheme is rolling around on the floor by my feet, trying to get me to give her a cuddle.

Oh, spoke too soon, she's picked a roll of selotape up in her mouth and is carrying it around. Bless the little weirdo.